Rotary engine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. GAR SKADEN. ROTARY ENGINE.

Patented May '7 1895.

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D. GAR SKADEN.

ROTARY ENGINE. No. 538,659. Patented Ma 7, 1895.

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Patented May 7, 1895.

PATENT DELOS GAR SKADEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,659, dated May '7, 1895'.

Application filed June 18,1892. Serial. No. 437,117. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- .7

Be it known that I, DELOS OAR SKADEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specitication.

My invention relates to improvements in concentric rotary engines, but more particularly to that class in which the space or groove into which the steam .or other fluid pressure is admitted for acting on the pistons, is formed in a rotary hub carrying radially reciprocating pistons actuated by a cam or by a ring surrounding an eccentric so as to cause them to intercept or span said steam space or.

\ groove, and cause the rotation of the hub by virtue of the pressure of the steam exerted between such pistons successively and a fixed abutment or head block projecting into the steam space or groove.

My present improvements have more especial reference to the means or mechanism for causing the reciprocation of the pistons.

Heretofore, in engines of the class above described, it has been proposed to employ in regular cams or cam grooves for actuating the pistons, to the end that the pistons might sooner intercept. the steam space or groove and remain thereacross throughout a greater portion of the travel of the piston than is possible with an ordinary eccentric. The ordinary eccentric, however, is very desirable because by its use 'the friction is reduced to the minimum, and moreover it is very simple of construction.

My invention has for its primary object,

With these ends in View, my invention consists primarily in improved means for causing the pistons to travel in arcs of non-concentric circles, or in other words, in an ellipse J during their revolution ororbit aboutthe axis of rotation; whereby their period of entrance into the steam space will be hastened, and the duration of their propelling action, or the time which they remain, before permitting exhaust, will be prolonged, and the friction produced by prior constructions for a similar purpose, will be overcome.

My invention also consists in certain other features of novelty in the construction, com- 'bination and arrangementof parts, by which the said objects are attained, as fully set forth in connection with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointedout in the claims.

My improvements are shown and described in connection with a duplex or double engine, but it will of course be understood that this form is only an example of one of the many forms to which my improvements are applicable, and hence it has no especial relation to my invention.

In the said drawings, Figure l is a vertical transverse section of a duplex rotary engine provided with my improvements, the section being taken on the line 1 1, Fig. 2.. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, the pistons and shaft being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 isadetailperspective view of the eccentric-block hereinafter described. Fig. liS a detail perspective View of one of the studs to which the pistons are attached. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic end sec-tion illustrating the course of the pistons produced by the rotation of the eccentricblock, as will-be hereinafter explained; and Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the course of the pistons in rotary engines as heretofore constructed.

Like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

My invention comprises a rotary engine having a hub carrying the pistons, which are secured to studs working in rectilinear grooves formed in a block surrounding or fitted upon a fixed eccentric, so that when the hub revolves, carrying the pistons with it, the eccentoo tric block also will be caused to revolve on the fixed eccentric, and thereby reciprocate the pistons across the steam space or groove.

Referring now more particularly to the construction shown by which the foregoing ends are attained, 1 is the cylindrical portion or barrel, whose ends, 2, are provided with right an d left screw threads, 3, 4, which are screwed into complementary threads formed on the interior of annular flanges, 5, 6, projecting from the inner sides of the removable heads or ends, 7, 8, respectively; thus constituting what may be termed the outer cylinder or casing. The cylinder or easing thus formed may be mounted on any suitable base, stand or pedestal, 9, and secured thereto in any convenient manner, and the cylindrical portion, 1, may be provided upon its outer periphery with a number df sockets, or lugs, 10, for the application of a wrench or lever by means of which the heads and the portion 1 may be screwed together until the desired adjustment or degree of tightness is attained. At least one of the heads, 7, 8, however, is connected to the pedestal or base 9, with capability of sliding thereon with relation to the other head, so that when the portion 1 is turned for tightening up the parts,the sliding head will come against the hub, and crowd it against the other head. As a means of accomplishing this, I prefer to provide the pedestal, 9, with a dove-tailed groove, 11, and on the lower side of one of the heads I form a complementary dove-tailed portion, 12, which fits into said groove, and holds the head rigidly in place. if desired, the groove 11 may be formed entirely across the pedestal, and the other head may also be secured therein in the same manner, and held against lateral movement by means of screws or bolts, 13. These details of construction are immaterial, however, and may be varied or omitted without affecting the spirit of my invention.

The heads, 7, 8, are provided with suitable journals, 14:, having stufiing boxes, 15, of any well known form, through which passes the shaft, 16; and on this shaft, within the cylinder or casing, is mounted the hub, 17, keyed thereto in any suitable manner, as by means of keys, 18, let into the hub and the shaft.

The hub, 17,is provided near its outer edge or periphery, in both faces, with an annular groove or steam space, 19, each of which grooves is in permanent communication with a series of ports, 20, equal in number to the number of pistons employed, and adapted to communicate successively with the inlet and exhaust ports, 21, 22, respectively, as the hub rotates. Fixed to each of the heads, 7, 8, and projecting into each of the grooves, 19, is an abutment or head block, 23, which completely fills the groove, as will be understood, and which may be of the ordinary form.

The hub 17 is provided with suitable packing devices, 2st, through which the radially reciprocating pistons 25,26, 27 and 28 project,

such pistons being arranged in radial grooves or slots, 29, formed in the hub.

Inasmuch as the seats or faces against which the pistons rest must be nicely planed or dressed, and this cannot be done by the ordinary methods, I prefer to form the interior of the hub of a number of segmental blocks or sections 30, in the meeting edges of which the seats or slots 29 for the pistons may be easily formed, and dressed before the parts are put together; and in order to hold these segmental portions, 30, firmly in place as'a whole, I shrink upon them a steel or other suitable ring or band, 31, which constitutes the periphery of the hub, and holds the segmental portions together in the form of a fly wheel. There should of course be as many of these segmental portions, 30, as there are pistons, so that each piston may have a seat or slot at the meeting ends of two of the sections. I have shown four, but any other number can be employed.

The central portion of the hub in both faces is provided with a circular chamber, 32, and secured to each of the heads, 7, 8, by means of screws, 33, is a fixed eccentric, 34, which projects into each of the chambers, 32, and through which the shaft 16, loosely passes, the eccentric being turned or arranged with its full side remote from the abutment Arranged or journaled loosely upon each of these eccentrics, 34, is an eccentric block, 35, Fig.

3, provided in its inner face with a number of rectilinear grooves, or ways, 36, one for each of the pistons employed, and fitted in these grooves, 36, respectively, are a number of studs, or sliding blocks, 37, to which the inner ends of the pistons are respectively secured. The blocks or studs, 37, are provided with seats, 38, into which thelower edges of the pistons rest, as shown more clearlyin Figs. 2 and 4, and also with perforations or sockets,39, into which fit pins or lugs, 40, projecting laterally from the inner ends of the pistons. Thus it will be seen that as the hub, 17, rotates, carrying the pistons with it, the eccentric block, 35, also will be caused to rotate about the center of the eccentric, 34, while the hub is rotating about the center of the shaft, 16, and consequently the pistons will be caused to reciprocate back and forth in their slots, 29, as will be understood, the blocks or studs, 37, coming and going in their grooves, 36, as the block, 35, changes its position with relation to the hub. It is by this eccentric action of the block, 35, and the rectilinear arrangement of the grooves, 36, therein, that I produce the desired elliptical travel of the outer ends of the pistons and at the same time overcome or avoid the great friction incident to the employment of an irregular cam, for it will be understood that the straight blocks or studs, 37, Work smoothly and squarely in their grooves, 36, without having to make or round abrupt turns, as is the case with the cam before referred to. As shown in Fig. 5, the pistons reach their innermost positions when at the point 41, directly under the head block, or abutment. From this point the piston gradually begins to protrude until the point 42, diametrically opposite the point 41, is reached, at which time the piston will be in its outermost position; and from the point 42, it gradually recedes until the point 41 is again reached. It will be seen, however, that the outward movement of the piston, after it passes the narrow side of the eccentric, becomes very rapid, and it fully intercepts the steam groove, 19, by the time it reaches the point 43, and it remains active and across the groove until the point 44 on the other side is reached, whence it begins to leave the outer wall of the groove, and recedes until the point 41 is reached, (permitting the steam to exhaust not until it has arrived at the point 44) thus describing two curves or arcs which are non-eccentric, whereas in the prior construction, in which the blocks or studs connected to the inner ends of the pistons travel ina circular groove or Way, the outer ends of the pistons describe a perfect circle, and they do not intercept the steam groove until they reach the point 45, which is many degrees below the point 43, and they begin to leave the groove and become inactive at the point 46,

' which is many degrees below the point 44.

Therefore it will be seen that by the employment of my improvements, I cause the pistons to remain in their active positions throughout a greater portion of their travel, than is possible with an engine of the same dimensions having the prior construction. My invention consequently possesses the advantage that I am able to gain greater power with less friction. This is so, first, because with the same dimensions and head or pressure of steam, an engine constructed according to my improvements has a longer active stroke than engines of the prior construction having the eccentric, and, second, because it has this increased active stroke, produced heretofore only by the employment of irregular cams, and at the same time the great friction incident to the use of such cams is avoided, and the advantages of an eccentric are gained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder or casing and the parts carrying the slots into which the pistons project, adapted to rotate, of an eccentric, a block j ournaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear ways, and pistons adapted to be actuated by said ways, substantially as set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with the casing or cylinder and a rotary hub mounted in said cylinder, of a fixed eccentric, an eccentric block journaled on said eccentric, and being provided with rectilinear grooves, and the reciprocating pistons having studs fitted in said grooves, substantially as set forth.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder or casing and the parts carrying the slots into which the reciprocating pistons project, adapted to rotate, of a fixed eccentric, a block surrounding said eccentric and having rectilinear ways by means of which said pistons and block are connected together, substantially as set forth.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with cylinder or casing and a hub mounted therein, and carrying reciprocating pistons, of a fixed eccentric, a block journaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear grooves formed therein, and studs arranged in said grooves and connected with said pistons respectively, substantially as set forth.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder or casing and the parts carrying the slots into which the pistons project, adapted to rotate, of an eccentric, a block journaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear ways, and pistons adapted to be actuated by said ways, said ways and pistons being permanently held at an unchanging angle with relation to each, substantially as set forth.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder or casing and the parts carrying the slots into which the pistons project, 5

adapted to rotate, of an eccentric, a block j ournaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear ways, and pistons adapted to be actuated by said ways, said ways and pistons being per manently held at right angles with relation to each other, substantially as set forth.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder or casing and a hub arranged therein, of an eccentric, a block journaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear ways, studs confined to travel lengthwise of said ways respectively, and pistons rigidly fixed to said studs respectively, substantially as set forth.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination with a cylinder or casing and a hub arranged therein, of an eccentric, a block journaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear ways, studs confined to travel lengthwise of such ways respectively, and having the grooves 38, therein, and pistons seated in said grooves and connected to said studs, respectively, substantially as set forth.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination with the cylinder or casing and the parts carrying the slots into which the pistons project, adapted to rotate, of an eccentric, a block j ournaled on said eccentric and having rectilinear ways arranged at right angles to each'other, and pistons connected to and actuated by said ways, substantially as set forth.

. DELOS OAR SKADEN.

Witnesses:

F. A. HOPKINS, R. O. OMoHUNnRo.

ICC

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